Not on a school night.

[OrmRenewed]

DS#1 loves skateboarding. Of all the various things he has got into over the years this is the one that has stuck and he really perseveres with it. He doesn't have formal lessons or belong to a club.

They have a freestyle session at the YMCA two nights a week. He often goes during the holidays or on a Friday. But he wants to go tonight. It's from 6 - 9. I have this feeling that school nights should be sacrosanct. I guess it comes from my childhood. He should be at home, doing hw and chilling out ready for bed.
But as this is his hobby is it OK for him to go? At least he's getting exercise and improving skills and meeting friends. I probably wouldn't mind if he was going to a club of some sort.

What is it OK to do on a school night? He's 13 btw.

I will stealth, I will! He will tremble in expectation of your (collective) wrath.

Aaah - I love your description of him Orm. I'm impressed by the skater boys at our local park. They are so lovely and patient with the younger ones. IMO, skateboarding encourages lots of good things - concentration, persistence, tolerance, patience broken ankles

There is a definite skating community. And they are busy doing something not hanging around worrying old ladies!

And as to injuries - he has torn intercostal muscles, a mashed toe, a horrible bruised knee and a scraped face in the last few weeks

My Ds who is the same age goes to a couple of clubs a week including Scouts and they all finish at 9.00pm The rule is as long as his homework and the extra tuition work he gets is up to date he can go. Only once did he try to swing it and not have the work done in time. He soon learned. He didn't go to his club that night.

I'd rather my lad's time was filled doing something constructive (that would include the skateboarding that your DS wants to do ) than either mopping about the house moaning to go on Facebook all evening or wanting to go to the park and hang out wiht his mates which is inevitable once the weather gets better and the light nights come.
At least I know excatly what he I doing.

do you mind picking up at that time though?

Have you decided OrmRenewed? Is he going?

he's gone.

Ah slarty, no wine on a Monday

Funny innit? I think school nights should be for staying in and doing your chores and homework too!

DD goes to Guides on a Tuesday night til 9 and tbh, the few times that she hasn't gone are because I can't be arsed to get all cold going out at 9pm for her! She's in the rest of the week though.

I was going to be one of these mums that would let the children chill after they had done all their homework. When they were younger they had swimming lessons and football practice and the like. Once they finished them I thought I could take it easy.

NOO!
They have found activities themselves that they want to do

DS1 Duke of Edingbugh (after school)
Scouts
Neighbourhood Community Cohesion Panel
sailing club
after school fitness club
after school scaletric club [sp]

DS2 After school learning club
cubs
sailing club
football

At least they are sticking to the clubs and not giving up after a couple of weeks and have been doing them for months!!

Crikey, I would pull my eye teeth out for a DS1 who would enthusiastically go to skateboarding until 9pm (or any constructive activity, really). Better than always mooching around the house grumping that he isn't allowed to play computer games and refusing to do any organised activities ever.

DS2 + DD do Judo 2x a week which doesn't finish until 8pm. But I'm so pleased, such a good activity for them to do (fun and great attitude atmosphere).

Picked him and his friend up, hot, sweaty and talking not-stop. Now having an ice-cream and a shower - not neccesarily in that order.

Sounds like he had fun then!!
Is it going to be a weekly thing then?

But if they don't go out on school nights how and when do they do stuff?

Weekends mostly. He also can go to the park after school until dinner time. But usually we insist he's home by 6 or 6.30.